Driver to stand trial for deadly crash

Victor Montour accused of huffing compressed air before wreck

BY JEFF TUCKER
The Pueblo Chieftain

Published: August 22, 2014;Last modified: August 22, 2014 10:24PM

A Pueblo district judge found probable cause to try a Pueblo man on charges of vehicular homicide, manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident for a March incident in which he’s accused of driving a car through the basement of a South Side home.

Victor Montour

Prosecutors have added a second vehicular homicide charge against Victor Montour, 31, this time alleging he was driving under the influence of inhalants when he wrecked his wife’s car into the home on the 1900 block of Hollywood Drive, killing Johnnie Hagerman, 46, and wounding his wife.

Montour also is facing a charge of vehicular homicide by reckless driving.

At Friday’s preliminary hearing, special prosecutor Thom Ledoux, district attorney for the 11th Judicial District in Fremont County, introduced evidence that Montour had been at the South Side Walmart store before the wreck and bought a can of compressed air.

Police testified that security video from the Walmart shows Montour purchasing the air can, for which a receipt was found in the car and the can itself found in the Hagermans’ home.

Under Ledoux’s questioning, Pueblo police Cpl. Jimmy Quintana testified that compressed air cans can be used for huffing, similar to aerosol paint cans or glue.

LeDoux worked to match that information with a witness’ description of the incident, who said it appeared the car Montour is accused of driving sat about two car lengths back from the intersection of Hollywood Drive and Ivywood Lane before it accelerated quickly through the intersection, lost control and crashed through the home.

Quintana testified that the car was going between 29 and 41 mph when the crash happened and there was no sign of braking.

But Defense Attorney Adam Schultz got Quintana to testify that compressed air cans don’t contain the same toxic chemicals found in paint or glue.

It was a point he stressed with District Judge David Crockenberg, arguing that even if the effect of huffing compressed air is similar, his client couldn’t have been driving under the influence of any drug or chemical since there was no chemical in the air can.

Crockenberg still found probable cause to move ahead with that charge as well as the others.

Witnesses, including Hagerman’s wife, saw a man jump from the vehicle and run from the scene.

The car was registered to Montour’s wife, Christy Marlett, who is facing an accessory charge and a count of false reporting. Police collected cellphone records from Marlett and from a phone found at the scene, connected to Montour.

Police also traced a series of calls between Marlett and a number connected to Victor Montelongo that happened after the accident.

Cpl. Raymond Purvis testified that Montelongo lived at a home nearby and told officers he used to be married to Montour’s aunt.

He said Montour knocked on his door the night of the accident and asked to use his phone, then left before a woman called back.

Montour entered a plea of not guilty. A trial has tentatively been set for February.